The Oklahoma Supreme Court has disbarred an attorney in a matter in which the grievance had been filed by his brother
The Complainant, State of Oklahoma ex rel. Oklahoma Bar Association, charged the Respondent Kent Leroy Siegrist with two counts of professional misconduct: (1) Respondent’s misappropriation of $1,135,000.00 as the Personal Representative of his father’s estate, and (2) Respondent’s failure to competently and diligently represent another client. The Respondent wholly failed to respond to the Complaint, and failed to appear at the disciplinary hearing, where the facts underlying the Complaint were deemed admitted. The Professional Responsibility Tribunal recommended the Respondent be disbarred from the practice of law and to pay the costs associated with the proceedings. Respondent’s actions violate the rules of professional conduct and constitute the commission of acts contrary to prescribed standards of conduct. We hold there is clear and convincing evidence that the Respondent’s conduct warrants disbarment. The Respondent is disbarred and ordered to pay the costs as herein provided within ninety days after this opinion becomes final.
Procedural history
On May 10, 2018, Respondent’s brother, David Siegrist, filed his grievance (Siegrist grievance) against Respondent with the Oklahoma Bar Association. Thereafter, on August 24, 2018, Brian Paige filed his grievance (Paige grievance) against Respondent with the Oklahoma Bar Association. Respondent failed to respond to either grievance. On August 15, 2019, a Complaint was filed in this matter by the Complainant against Respondent pursuant to Rule 6, RGDP, alleging two counts of professional misconduct. Respondent failed to file an Answer to the Complaint. On October 1, 2019, Complainant filed a Notice of Service detailing its attempts to serve Respondent with the Complaint and all of the filed materials in this matter. There is no dispute that Respondent was provided with proper notice of the proceedings. On October 8, 2019, Complainant filed an Amended Motion to Deem Allegations Admitted. The motion was sustained by the Professional Responsibility Tribunal (PRT) at the beginning of the disciplinary proceedings on October 9, 2019. Respondent failed to appear at the hearing.
On November 8, 2019, the PRT issued its Trial Panel Report (Report). The PRT found by clear and convincing evidence that Respondent violated Rules 1.1, 1.3, 1.4, 1.5, and 8.4(a), (c), and (d), ORPC, and Rules 1.3 and 5.2, RGDP, with the recommendation that Respondent be disbarred from the practice of law and that he be ordered to pay the costs of these proceedings.
Disposition
We agree with Complainant’s recommendation that Respondent be disbarred from the practice of law and that he be ordered to pay the costs of these proceedings. Respondent’s misconduct is disturbing. It is our difficult duty to withdraw a license to practice law, but we shall if necessary to protect the interest of the public and the legal profession as a whole. Because Respondent has failed to participate at any level in regards to these two grievances and the corresponding Complaint, the record is silent as to Respondent’s point of view and thus, we have no choice but to adopt the facts as presented to us by the Complainant.
(Mike Frisch)